Gael aebndt angstkom



(N0 Model.)

0. A. ANGSTRUM.

APPARATUS FOR SELF MASSAGE OR FLESH KNEADING. No. 259,456. Patented June 13, 1882..

. zadwm UNITED TATES ATENT Fries.

GAR-L ARENDT ANGSTROM, OF STOGKHOLM, SIVEDEN.

APPARATUS FOR SELF-MASSAGE OR .FLESH-KNEADING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Nol 259,456, dated June 13, 1882.

Application filed April 10, 1882.

(No model.) Patented in Germany August 18, 1881, No. 16,954; in England September 5, 1881,

No. 3,859, and in Sweden October 26, 1881, No. 330.

To all whom it may concern A Be it known that I, CARL ARENDT ANG- sTRoM, a citizen of the Kingdom of Sweden, residing at Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Self-Massage or Flesh-Kneading; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to construct a simple and inexpensive utensil or apparatus for so-called self-massage or flesh-kneadin g--a treatment which is prescribed by physicians in certain diseases or disorders of the human system. This self -massa ge or kneading of the muscles and other fleshy parts of the body has, previous to myinvention, usually been performed with the knuckles of the person himself, or by another person; but Where the person is to perform this operation himself he cannot, by the aid of the hands alone, reach all parts of the body requiring treatment, and it is not always convenient or expedient to procure the services of another person.

By the use of the apparatus hereinafter described the operation of self -massage may be readily performed over all parts of the body by the person himself, with a minimum of physical exertion and in a far more effectual manner than where this operation is performed by the knuckles of the hand or hands.

In the accompanying drawings, the figures from 1 to 6, inclusive, represent my apparatus, showing rollers of difi'erent length, size, and shape, and also handles of different length. A side view of any one of these implements, regardless of the length of handle, is shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 7 represents the implement provided with an auxiliary handle for its more convenient manipulation. Fig. 9 represents a series of rollers upon the same axle. Fig. 10 shows an arrangement of handles which will be found convenient for treatment of the back and back part of the shoulders, and Fig.

11 represents a modified construction of the rollers.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. A is the handle, made of wood or any other light and suitable material, on opposite sides of which are secured plates or bearings B B for the roller-shaft or axle D. r

(J 0 represent the rollers, which may be made of any suitable material-such as wood, bone, horn, hard rubber, or celluloid-and attached either upon axles which are movable in their bearings B orjournaled loosely upon axles which are fixed in the bearing-plates B. These rollers may be of any desired width, and are turned to form circumferential annular projections to a, of which there may be one or more, as shown in the drawings.

In Fig. 11 I have shown in cross-section a roller or kneader in which rings of vulcanized rubber, b b, or of other firm but nevertheless elastic substance are placed in the annular grooves which separate the serrations or ridges a a and project out over them, so as to form the bearing-surface or rubbing-surface of the roller.

In Fig. 9 I have shown three separate rollers, G, O, and G, journaled upon a common axle, D, so that they will, when the apparatus is in use, rotate independently of each other.

If desired, the handle may be provided with a projecting knob of wood, bone, or other suitable material, as shown at E in Fig. 8, for the purpose of beating the muscles when required as part of the kneading process. The apparatus shown in Figs. 7 and Sis specially adapted for treatment of the joints of the feet and the front of the shoulders.

In using the several forms or modifications of apparatus shown the person requiring massage treatment holds the handle or handles with one or both hands, bringing the rollers several times over the part that requires treatment and rolling back and forth with a proper pressure. After a little practice the patient will soon learn to perform the operation with very little exertion, and will effect a more thorough kneadin g of the muscles than can possibly be done by the hands alone.

In treating the large muscles of the body it handle, upon which is mounted one or more is well to use rollers having thin serrations or rollers having circumferential ribs or ridges a, ridges a, so as to dent the soft parts deeply as shown and set forth. and effect a more thorough kneading than is In testimony whereof I have hereto affixed 5 possible with rollers having blunt ridges. '11] y signature in presence of two witnesses.

Having thus described my invention I claim A and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the CARL ARENDT ANGSTROM' United States- Witnesses:

An apparatusfor massage treatmentor flesh- FREDRIK L. EN UIs'r, 1o kneading, composed of a suitably-constructed N. LJUNYBERG. 

